SANTA BARBARA, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i softball team (16-16, 8-5 Big West) was shut out in their series opener at UC Santa Barbara, 4-0. Despite the Rainbow Wahine getting at least one runner on base in all but two innings, UH left eight runners stranded as the Gauchos snapped the 'Bows' conference game win streak at five. UH starter Taryn Irimata suffered the loss at the Campus Diamond in Santa Barbara Calif..
 
Hawai'i's hitters combined for five hits and drew three walks, keeping the Gauchos' defense on alert. In the fourth, UH had their best scoring opportunity as Millie Fidge led off with a single, and later with two outs, Nagasako followed with a hit of her own to put both runners in scoring position. But the Gauchos got a strikeout looking to stymie the Rainbow rally.

The Gauchos relied on timely extra-base hits to build their lead, starting in the third inning as Delaina Ma'ae opened the scoring with a solo home run to center field. In the fourth, after UCSB's Ainsley Waddell doubled, Emily Carr drove her in with a double down the left-field line. The Gauchos added another run in the fifth as Dani Rauscher singled and came around to score on a ground-rule double to center field by Giselle Mejia. In the sixth, Ma'ae capped the UCSB scoring with her second solo home run of the game for the 4-0 win. .

UH's Irimata (6-7) pitched a complete game in the loss, throwing 91 pitches. She allowed four runs on nine hits with three stikeouts.
 
UCSB's Sophia Clark (8-5) earned the complete game shutout win giving up five hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
 
The Rainbow Wahine and Gauchos will conclude their three-game series with a Saturday doubleheader on April 4^th at 9:00 a.m. HT at the Campus Diamond in Santa Barbara, Calif..